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Courtney Orton reporting If you wander through the grocery store on auto-pilot, you're probably spending more than you need to. That's what we found last week after shopping five different grocery stores and comparing name brand products to generic products.
We also learned it's not necessarily where you shop but how you shop that matters. We've received quite a few e-mails from viewers who agree.
Many viewers have sent in their tips, and we'll share some of them. But understand: We haven't tested any of them ourselves.
For example: milk. Several viewers say they stock up on milk when it's on sale, then freeze some of it. Other viewers tell us they do the same thing with meat.
We heard from a lot of you about coupons. Angie S. said, "Once done clipping coupons, I put remaining ones in an envelope and pass it to my neighbor on my left. She does the same thing and so does a third neighbor whose coupons come to me. We do it each again, so we all take coupons the other two have discarded."
Melanie wrote, "I started using coupons with my normal grocery shopping last August, and since then I have cut our grocery bill by $50. It does take planning, though. I shop when things are on sale, and then use the coupon on top of the sale price."
Some of you say the best way to save money at the supermarket is to make grocery shopping a game.
Lilosmom wrote, "Race yourself in the store. See if you can get out in under a half hour, and then try to beat your time each week. The longer you stay, the more you spend!"
Suzuki said, "As a challenge, try to make as many meals as you can without having to buy anything! Then start a friendly competition with a friend. The winner is the one that can get their grocery bill the lowest for the month. The loser has to make dinner for the winner!"
Another person said, "I go shopping when I am not hungry and with a mindset that I only have $100 a week for food. It works out awesome."
If you want to spend less, SutuG suggests, "Teach kids to grocery shop. They can help with coupon clipping, making a grocery list, and shopping; then pay them a percentage of money saved. They will learn the basics of frugality."
Others say leave the kids home because they can be a distraction and a facilitator for buying extra. Sugary cereals are at children's eye level. We got several comments on this.
When it comes to matching prices, one viewer told us she goes through the ads each week and makes a list that she takes to the store with her. As the cashier rings up her order, she shows the list and the ad and gets the best price.
We've been talking about how you shop, but what about when you shop? Tomorrow on Eyewitness News Today, find out when you should buy certain items in order to get the best price.
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
